Tablets computers are fast becoming one of the hottest items out. People are buying the and using them for everything from streaming video, business presentations and surfing the web. Although at first tablets were not thought to be a threat to laptops or netbooks, they are indeed putting a dent into the netbook and laptop markets. Let’s take a closer look at tablet computers and what the allure of these devices actually is.

Let’s face it, tablets are cool. They look cool and are very trendy. The touch screen is just fun to play with and they are relatively new and everybody is talking about them. The fun factor cannot be denied. But once you get past the fun, many people find they can’t put them down. They can easily check their email, surf the web and stream movies on their tablet. Some tablets also allow a person to take pictures and have video chat. They are easily held and don’t have to be placed on your lap like a netbook or laptop. Some tablets can even fit in a person’s pocket or purse.

The cool factor is good, but the fact is they provide a major convenience to most computer users. Most computer users don’t use their computers for intensive projects. They aren’t developing complex animations or complex video programs. Most computer users simply browse the web, check email and visit social networking sites. If they need to do extensive typing, they can easily buy a keyboard for their tablet that can be connected via USB or through blue tooth technology. Some tablets actually allow you to dock the tablet into a keyboard that transforms it into an actual netbook.

The tablet market looks like it will continue to grow. Apple and Android based tablets seem to be leading the way right now. Of course it was the Apple Ipad that started all the tablet buzz back in 2010, but the Android tablets have proven to be quite competitive in the market. There are many manufacturers that make Android tablets while only Apple makes the Ipad. Some see that as an advantage to the Android based tablets while others see it as an advantage to Apple. To most consumers, it doesn’t matter who wins in the end, they get some cool computers to play with while the competition heats up.